And as you may know the birthstone for September is Sapphire. Love sapphires!
I really should have been a September baby!
While I was cruisng the search over on etsy for sapphires for my sapphire treasury, I found this pretty pink sapphire ring.
So simple - so chic!

This is often where we all start.
You know you have a few items and show your friends and they are fabulously encouraging, they buy some pieces for themselves or gifts and word spreads.

And you could just stay with this - BUT it is a very limited market.
You want to spread your wings and expand your horizons.
You never really leave these first customers behind, they'll always be there and could be your best advertising.

Here are some ideas for selling your wares in the wider world and I'll come back to them indetail over the next days/weeks and maybe get some discussion going and idea sharing.

Friday, August 26, 2011

As you may know I'm fond of recycling/remodelling/reusing creations that do not sell.

Sometimes just the threat of this fate is enough to result in someone to (unwittingly) buying the piece!
However not this one -

It's a really bad photo that I took on my market stall one day...I don't think I ever listed it in my etsy or madeit shops.
It did have a matching bracelet and earrings...long gone!

But I do still love the orange branch coral and the czech glass shell beads and the little acid green czech glass beads. so I draped it around my wrist and "yes"! it could be a very bold and unusual bracelet!

Then with some of the leftover orange coral drops I made a long necklace on a chain - tres chic!

I think they are still very summery and beachy. We'll see how they go!

Are you getting in the mood for summer and planning your summer creations?

Thursday, August 25, 2011

I my creative space this week just a couple of simple bracelets to see how I go with my sore thumb.
I found that I can do most things left-handed and that the most difficult part is tightening the stringing wire, but somehow I managed!

I just love these bright stripey beads - they are a coloured malachite -
Rainbow malachite and fusion malachite...very sweet for summer!

These are some books I have recently finished reading and they are on their way from my bedroom (my reading room) to the downstairs bookshelves (the library)

It seems I am a bit of a non-fiction reader!

5 of the 6 books are non-fiction and only 1 novel.

The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow by AJ Mackinnon one of the funniest books I have read, is the story of the author's journey in a small sailing boat form the heart of England to the Black Sea.
And his other book The Well at the World's End is another rip-roaring trans-global adventure.

I guess I'm a bit of an armchair traveller and have shared many of Dervla Murphy's adventures. The Island That Dared is her account of Cuba which is fascinating, if a little history-dense!

Three Cups of Tea I bought at one of the two excellent bookshops in Darjeeling! (where else?). It had been recommended by one of our fellow travellers and is the story of mountaineer Greg Mortenson's
journey to built schools in Pakistan. As an affirmation of what can be done when you set your mind to it - it's awesome!

A friend with Tasmanian connections lent me Carnivorous Nights - on the trail of the Tasmanian Tiger. Having just returned from Tassie I could relate to a lot of the places and this book is so well written, I highly recommend it!

And lastly my fiction pick! I heard Roberta Lowing talk at the Sydney Writer's Festival and was quite smittne with the idea behind her book and the passage that she read. However it didnt really hold my attention - I did finish it - but didnt feel very satisfied. Oh well, thems the breaks!

Friday, August 19, 2011

I am feeling so much better and the weather has been beuatiful - double incentive for getting out and riding!
I persuaded hub to come with me on the Prospect Reservoir loop.
It's a 34km circular ride, all on bike paths in Western Sydney. The path is not terribly scenic even though it follows the evocatively named Orphan School Creek for a goodly way.

Here is an example of urban decoration!

But then surprise!
A lovely buddist temple, with ceremonies going on - chanting and incense, it took me right back to south-east Asia.

Another day I ventured further west to the circuit of the Olympic rowing course.
This is such a great asset as open space in the west!

Unfortunately part of the path was closed while a group was testing a solar powered car for the solar car challenge.
Space age or what?

And my supplies-buying-spree!
Not on my list - painted wooden discs.

Also not on my list - coloured lava stone beads
.

Irresistible - coloured leather thinging

You guessed it - not on my list either!
Does that happen to you? you end up with a lot of things you just cant leave in the shop!

And a pile of beads in my workspace that just happened to be there at the same time and became a necklace!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

I have a very sore thumb.
I think it's trigger finger - or thumb....again!
I have had this in my left thumb before and had surgery....so now I'm supposed to be resting my thiumb in the hope that it will un-freeze!

I'm not very hopeful...and I'm very frustrated - I have lots of lovely new supplies....but can't use them!

Some things I can do lefthanded - like stamping!

If you would like to see other creative spaces or join in pop on over here.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I am ashamed to say that I have been meaning to write this post for ages, because, you see someone gave me something and asked me to make some things...but so far I've only made one little thing!

Anyway I will tell you about the one thing and maybe that will inspire me to make more things!

The lovely Narelle, the creative force behind rubyvictoria and printmaker extraordinaire sent me some of her newly printed calico fabric.

I just love them! Dont you?

I was in the midst of sewing for a promotion waaaaay in the future, in October, for my craft co-operative The Nook. I was making little pouches (see here) and so I sewed a little business card pouch with ruby victoria's fabric -

and this is the inside -

This one is not to give way!
This one is for me!

Maybe I'll post a tutorial about how to make them - they are very easy!